barely drive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely drive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is only able to drive with difficulty or minimal capability. Example: "After the accident, I could barely drive my car without feeling anxious."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

(Never mind that she can barely drive).

The New York Times

During the birthing season you can barely drive down the road, the animals are everywhere".

The New York Times - Travel

The Meehan brothers descended with hammers and drills to rescue the kid brother who could barely drive a nail.

The New York Times - Magazine

The social condition of women was starting to change, but women could barely drive a car and go to the supermarket with those huge fur coats on.

The New York Times

"We drove 36 hours straight from spring training in Tampa to Wausau," Reynolds said, "and what stood out is that Omar could barely drive because he was from New York and so used to subways.

The New York Times - Sports

However, in the fracture process under bending, the energy flux in the upper part is low and can barely drive the crack growth above the FW nucleation site, so little or no extra energy would be available for the FW propagation toward the upper part of the crack front.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

They were never sold, never titled and, with fewer than 20 miles on their odometers, barely driven.

The New York Times

(Reuters) It has been an interesting month for barely driven cars, with the latest example popping up in Ireland.

The New York Times

When the car became available from a seller in New Jersey seven years ago, he couldn't resist, especially because the car had been garaged and barely driven.

The New York Times

He had barely driven out of the bank parking lot before state troopers pulled him over in the driveway of an Eyeglass World store up the street.

The New York Times

Just scoring a point will be hard enough for the 38-year-old, who has barely driven the F60 car now that testing is banned during the season, and he knows it.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely drive", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you're referring to a lack of skill or a low frequency of driving. For example, "He can barely drive because of his eyesight" (skill) vs. "She barely drives since she moved downtown" (frequency).

Common error

Avoid using "barely drive" when you mean the person doesn't drive at all. "Barely drive" implies some limited capability or frequency, not complete absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely drive" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the verb "drive". The adverb "barely" modifies the action, indicating a limited degree or frequency. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely drive" is used to describe a limited ability or low frequency of driving. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's grammatically sound and appears in various contexts, primarily in news and media. Related phrases include "hardly drive" and "rarely drive". When using "barely drive", ensure the context makes it clear if you mean to indicate lack of skill or infrequency. It is a relatively uncommon expression, but its meaning is straightforward and readily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly drive

Indicates a similar low frequency of driving.

scarcely drive

Emphasizes the rarity of driving.

infrequently drive

Focuses on the lack of regular driving habits.

rarely operate a vehicle

Formal alternative, highlighting vehicle operation skill.

struggle to drive

Highlights the difficulty experienced when driving.

find it hard to drive

Specifies that driving is a challenge.

only drive when necessary

Indicates driving is limited to essential situations.

seldom drive

A more formal synonym for "rarely drive".

almost never drive

Emphasizes the extreme infrequency of driving.

just drive a bit

Indicates driving is only done for short distances.

FAQs

What does it mean to "barely drive"?

To "barely drive" means to have limited ability or do it very infrequently. It suggests a marginal capacity or occurrence rather than complete inability or absence.

How can I use "barely drive" in a sentence?

You can use "barely drive" to describe someone's limited driving ability or how infrequently they drive, such as: "After the accident, she could "barely drive" without feeling anxious" or "He "barely drives" since he prefers public transport".

What are some alternatives to "barely drive"?

Alternatives include "hardly drive", "rarely drive", or "infrequently drive". The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize lack of skill or low frequency.

Is it better to say "can't drive" or "barely drive"?

"Can't drive" implies a complete inability to drive. "Barely drive" suggests some limited capacity or infrequency. Use "can't drive" if the person has no driving ability, and "barely drive" if they have some ability but it's limited or they rarely do it.